Edwards Has 'ambition To Win A Rugby Championship'

A feted erstwhile Great Britain rugby convention captain, Edwards' prolific rugby national coaching profession began pinch a trophy-laden spell astatine Wasps, earlier joining Warren Gatland's Wales unit successful 2008 wherever he won 4 Six Nations Championships successful a 12-year period.

Since moving to France pursuing nan 2019 World Cup, Edwards helped nan French triumph a Grand Slam successful 2022 arsenic good arsenic back-to-back titles successful 2025 and 2026.

However, he says he ne'er received immoderate connection to coach his autochthonal country, despite regular calls for nan Rugby Football Union to bring nan 59-year-old home.

"One point I person learned complete nan years is you person to beryllium asked if you are going to spell to a nine aliases a union," Edwards said.

"They person to telephone you and inquire you. After nan adjacent World Cup, we will spot what happens."

Known arsenic 1 of nan champion defence coaches successful nan game, Edwards' Welsh defence went 4 games successful a statement without conceding a effort en way to winning nan Six Nations successful 2013.

However, pinch France conceding 96 points successful their past 2 games, and pinch a grounds number of tries scored successful this year's tournament, Edwards says nan crippled has changed significantly.

"World Rugby want much points, and a batch of nan rules person changed successful favour of nan attack," he explained.

"Back successful 2010 you could person 2 aliases 3 group contesting successful nan ruck each astatine 1 time, and for 2 aliases 3 times. Now you tin title nan shot once, pinch 1 player, who tin only person 1 attempt.

"Another logic is nan value of nan pitches. They are unrecognisable [from what they were].

"Most group erstwhile they spell to watch rugby don't spell to watch defence, they spell to watch attack.

"I utilized to opportunity [you request to] support them to nether 20 points. So 16, 17 points. But now, a bully time astatine nan agency for defence is 21, 22 points.

"We defended really powerfully successful nan first 3 games, but erstwhile we played against nan apical teams - I deliberation Scotland are 1 of nan champion attacking teams successful nan world and England are a very well-coached attacking squad - past evidently we did struggle."